Archives for: June 2007, 27

Yesterday I got a Type O workout in the extreme. I brought everything down out of our attic. We have lived in this house since 1979, and we have accumulated a lot of stuff. My husband and I opened every box in the attic prior to the garage sale last spring. We sold some and gave a lot to the Salvation Army. There is still a lot that we are moving with us to the new houseâ€¦wooden puzzles, favorite children's books, pictures that didn't fit in this house, but that might be just right for the new one.

I made countless trips up and down the attic stairs. I carried and stacked box after box in the garage. Both cars will be parked on the street until the movers come on Monday, because the garage is filled with boxes. This was a brutal activity in the South Texas heat and humidity. By the time I was through my clothes were drenched.

Oddly, though I smelled terrible and was covered with dust, I felt great. My body really does thrive when it is doing physical work. All of my grandfathers were farmers and ranchers. Their professions gave them the exercise they needed. In this modern world, on most days I have to invent physical activity like swimming or running. My daily work is usually much to sedentary to count as exercise.